Smart thermostat with model predictive control and demand response integration

Abstract

A system includes a plurality of thermostats corresponding to a plurality of HVAC systems that serve a plurality of spaces and a computing system communicable with the plurality of thermostats via a network. The computing system is configured to, for each space of the plurality of spaces, obtain a set of training data relating to thermal behavior of the space, identify a model of thermal behavior of the space based on the set of training data, perform a model predictive control process using the model of thermal behavior of the space to obtain a temperature setpoint for the space, and provide the temperature setpoint to the thermostat corresponding to the HVAC system serving the space. The plurality of thermostats are configured to control the plurality of HVAC systems in accordance with the temperature setpoints.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a plurality of thermostats corresponding to a plurality of HVAC systems that serve a plurality of spaces; 
 a computing system communicable with the plurality of thermostats via a network, the computing system configured to, for each space of the plurality of spaces,
 obtain a set of training data relating to thermal behavior of the space; 
 identify a model of thermal behavior of the space based on the set of training data; 
 perform a model predictive control process using the model of thermal behavior of the space to obtain a temperature setpoint for the space; and 
 provide the temperature setpoint to a thermostat corresponding to an HVAC system serving the space; 
 
 wherein the plurality of thermostats are configured to control the plurality of HVAC systems in accordance with temperature setpoints corresponding to each. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing system is configured to obtain the set of training data relating to thermal behavior of the space by executing a system identification experiment for the space,
 wherein executing the system identification experiment comprises providing a series of temperature setpoint changes to the thermostat corresponding to the HVAC system serving the space. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the thermostats are configured to prompt users for permission to perform the system identification experiment, and wherein executing the system identification experiment comprises causing the thermostat to display an indication that the system identification experiment is ongoing. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2 , wherein executing the system identification experiment comprises preventing a user from adjusting a current temperature setpoint for the space. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing system is configured to identify the model of thermal behavior of the space by performing a system identification process to determine values for parameters of the model of thermal behavior. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing system is configured to receive data from a utility provider computing system and adjust the model predictive control process based on the data from the utility provider computing system.